Church leaders do it all the time.
Ask them who they’re trying to reach. Their answer? Everyone.
It sounds appropriate. I get that. What else are you going to say?
After all, the Gospel is for everyone.
But that’s not the question.
The question is, who is your church designed to reach?
Is your church for everyone? Really?
What if it’s not?
Now, here’s the promise.
What if … the faster you get away from the idea that your church is for everyone, the more effective you will be as a church?
Consider this:
You are currently reaching a segment of the population—not the entire population.
I don’t know of a single church that has reached everybody.
The people you’re reaching probably represent a particular demographic.
Even if it’s multi-ethnic, or multigenerational, you are likely reaching a segment of people within the broader demographic.
Your church has a style, feel and culture that attracts certain groups.
In Western culture, people self-select based on what your organization has to offer, just like Walmart shoppers are different than Nordstrom shoppers.
In addition, the way you do church (a combination of your mission and vision, but even more importantly, your organizational culture and strategy) has an inevitable filtering effect:
Your music is going to attract some people and bother others.
Your teaching style and content is going to connect better with some than others.
The people who already make up your church are more likely to attract others like themselves; like attracts like.
Your location and even the architectural style of the building in which you gather (whether that’s a school, a theater, a gothic cathedral, a contemporary suburban megachurch, an A-frame ’50s landmark or a living room) make some feel at home while pushing others away.
Your leadership style is compelling to some people and not so much for others.
I’m not saying this is the way it should be. I’m just saying this is simply true.
